System for generating brown gas and uses thereof

Abstract

A system for the generation, storage and use of Brown's gas comprising at least one Brown's gas generator, in communication with an electricity supply and water supply; at least one first storage chamber, in fluid communication with the generator, for storing the Brown's gas generated from said generator; and Brown's gas application means in communication with said at least one first storage chamber, wherein said generator and first storage chamber are located proximate the Brown's gas application means. For example, the Brown's gas may be used for the production of hot water, for the production of chilled water and as fuel in an incineration unit.

1 . A system for the generation, storage and use of Brown's gas comprising:
 at least one Brown's gas generator, in communication with an electricity supply and water supply;   at least one first storage chamber, in fluid communication with the generator, for storing the Brown's gas generated from said generator; and   Brown's gas application means in communication with said at least one first storage chamber,   
       wherein said generator and first storage chamber are located proximate the Brown's gas application means. 
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first storage tank contains a pre-determined quantity of a liquefied hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the application means comprises at least one first chamber for producing hot water, wherein heat for heating said hot water is derived from combustion of Brown's gas with the Brown's gas obtained from the at least one first storage chamber. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first chamber comprises:
 a first inlet for receiving Brown's gas from the at least one first storage chamber;   a second inlet for receiving water;   a gas burner; and   an outlet for discharging the hot water produced,   
       wherein the Brown's gas from the first inlet is burnt by the gas burner, thereby heating the water from the second inlet and wherein the heated water is discharged from the outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the second inlet for receiving water is connected to an outlet of at least one heat exchanger contained within the at least one Brown's gas generator. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first chamber comprises a reactive metal element. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 4 , further comprising at least one second storage chamber for storing the hot water. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the application means further comprises at least one second chamber for producing chilled water. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one second chamber comprises:
 a first inlet for receiving an absorbent;   a second inlet for receiving a refrigerant;   a third inlet for receiving cool water;   a fourth inlet for receiving warm water;   a first heat exchanger;   a second heat exchanger;   a first outlet for discharging warm water; and   a second outlet for discharging chilled water produced,   
       wherein the third inlet and first outlet are connected to the first heat exchanger, and the fourth inlet and second outlet are connected to the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the fourth inlet is connected to the at least one second storage chamber. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the application means further comprises at least one third chamber for burning waste. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one third chamber comprises:
 a combustion unit for burning waste by combusting Brown's gas;   a first inlet connected to the combustion unit for receiving waste;   a second inlet connected to the combustion unit for receiving Brown's gas from the at least one first storage chamber; and   an outlet connected to the combustion unit for discharging flue gas produced from the combustion unit.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a heat exchanger connected to the outlet for discharging flue gas. 
     
     
         24 . A boiler and burner unit for producing hot water, the boiler and burner unit comprising:
 a first inlet for receiving feed water;   a second inlet for receiving Brown's gas from a Brown's gas generator; and   an outlet for discharging hot water produced,   
       wherein the Brown's gas is burnt to produce heat which heats the feed water to produce hot water. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The boiler and burner unit according to  claim 24 , wherein the first inlet is connected to: the outlet of a first heat exchanger of the Brown's gas generator; the outlet of at least one solar thermal collector; and/or to a storage tank for storing the hot water produced. 
     
     
         27 . A system for recovering heat generated by burning of combustion material comprising:
 at least one Brown's gas generator, in communication with an electricity supply and water supply;   at least one first storage chamber, in fluid communication with the generator, for storing the Brown's gas generated from the generator;   at least one combustion chamber, in communication with the at least one first storage chamber, for burning the combustion material; and   at least one heat-extracting chamber adapted to receive heat produced by the combustion chamber from the burning of the combustion material,   
       wherein the generator and the first storage chamber are located proximate the combustion chamber and the heat-extracting chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the at least one combustion chamber comprises:
 a combustion unit for burning combustion material by combusting Brown's gas;   a first inlet connected to the combustion unit for receiving combustion material;   a second inlet connected to the combustion unit for receiving Brown's gas from the at least one first storage chamber; and   an outlet connected to the combustion unit for discharging flue gas produced by the combustion unit.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the at least one heat-extracting chamber comprises:
 a water inlet;   a flue gas inlet for receiving flue gas produced from the combustion unit;   a first outlet for discharging the steam produced, and   a second outlet for discharging flue gas,   such that water from the water inlet is heated by flue gas from the flue gas inlet, thereby producing steam and wherein the steam is discharged from the first outlet and flue gas is discharged from the second outlet.   
     
     
         32 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of recovering heat generated by the burning of combustion material, the method comprising the steps of:
 burning combustion material in at least one combustion chamber by combusting Brown's gas; and   receiving flue gas produced by the combustion chamber for recovering heat therein.   
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 feeding the steam produced to at least one steam turbine; and   providing a generator in communication with the at least one steam turbine for generating electricity.   
     
     
         47 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . An assembly for treating flue gas before discharging into the atmosphere comprising:
 at least one processing chamber for receiving and heating flue gas;   means for combusting Brown's gas to supply heat for heating flue gas; and   a portion for discharging heated flue gas.   
     
     
         52 . The assembly according to  claim 51 , further comprising at least one member within the at least one processing chamber, wherein heating the flue gas in proximity to the at least one member achieves a greater heating efficiency of the flue gas. 
     
     
         53 . The assembly according to  claim 52 , wherein the at least one member comprises a mesh-grid block, wherein the mesh-grid block is housed within the at least one processing chamber. 
     
     
         54 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The assembly according to  claim 51 , wherein the assembly comprises three processing chambers, the three processing chambers arranged such that the flue gas passes through each of the three processing chambers sequentially. 
     
     
         59 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The assembly according to  claim 51 , further comprising means for generating electricity in communication with the heat-extracting chamber, the means for generating electricity comprising:
 at least one steam turbine adapted to receive steam produced by the heat-extracting chamber;   at least one generator, in communication with the at least one steam turbine, for generating electricity; and   means for discharging the electricity generated from the generator.   
     
     
         64 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . The assembly according to  claim 51 , further comprising a scrubbing assembly, the scrubbing assembly containing means for scrubbing flue gas and wherein the scrubbing assembly is adapted to receive flue gas from the portion for discharging heated flue gas and/or the flue gas outlet of the heat-extracting chamber. 
     
     
         71 - 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . A method for treating flue gas before being discharged into the atmosphere comprising the steps of:
 providing flue gas to the at least one processing chamber;   providing Brown's gas to a means for combusting Brown's gas; and   heating the flue gas to a pre-determined temperature by combusting the Brown's gas.   
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein the heating step comprises heating the flue gas in the presence of at least one member for achieving a higher heating efficiency. 
     
     
         78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein flue gas is provided to three processing chambers, the flue gas passing through each of the three processing chambers sequentially. 
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 80 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing flue gas to a first processing chamber;
 heating the flue gas in the first processing chamber to a first pre-determined temperature by combusting Brown's gas; 
   ducting the heated flue gas from the first processing chamber to a second processing chamber;   heating the flue gas in the second processing chamber to a second pre-determined temperature by combusting Brown's gas;   ducting the heated flue gas from the second processing chamber to a third processing chamber; and   heating the flue gas in the third processing chamber to a third pre-determined chamber by combusting Brown's gas.   
     
     
         82 - 88 . (canceled)